Nuclear talks enter uncharted territory
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-07-30 15:23

The United States is demanding that Pyongyang dismantle all its nuclear activities, including the HEU programme.

All sides are committed in principle to a nuclear-free peninsula. The crux of the disagreement is over timing, whether Pyongyang should receive the security guarantees and aid before it moves to scrap its weapons programmes.

Some diplomats suggest that whether or not a joint statement is reached at the fourth round of talks, the parties can still declare success due to the unprecedented level of contact between North Korea and the United States.